There may be a slew of file managers out there to choose from, but when it comes down to it, ASTRO is still my personal favorite. Maybe it's because I've been using since the OG Droid days. Maybe it's because of the continuous development. Or maybe because it just works. Regardless of the reason, there's no denying that it's easily one of the best choices when it comes to a file manager on Android.

As a long time Android user, ASTRO is one of those apps that has been on nearly every device I own/have owned. I've seen it change and progress over the years, and to this day it remains one of my favorite file managers.

And it just got even better on Jelly Bean devices.

The app received an update today that brings a beautiful new UI to Jelly Bean devices; don't worry, the ASTRO team will be bringing it to "other" devices shortly.

Nothing excites me more than a new app for my poor, neglected tablet. Today, Astro is joining the party with version 3.0 of their venerable file manager. The new Astro sports a completely redesigned UI and icons, and drag and drop support. Look how pretty:

And it still works with all the cool Astro plug-ins, like Bluetooth and SMB networking. You know the drill, Astro is available in the Android Market.

Yesterday we published a piece regarding Astro File Manager’s now-mandatory ads. Earlier today, the developer of Astro (Metago) released Astro File Manager Pro. It comes in at $2.99, and its only “Pro” feature at the moment is that it removes ads from the application.

Some users may feel this is a cheap-shot. I disagree. Metago has taken the high ground in regard to the paid apps philosophy, here’s how.

Before I start I’d like to make on thing clear – I think ASTRO File Manager is a superb file management application and I have nothing against their developers or the app itself!

If you’ve used an Android phone, you probably know what Astro File Manager is. Briefly, it’s a file management application that lets you organise, edit, and manage the files on your SD Card. Not only that, but it also comes bundled with extra features such as application backups, task manager, SD Card Usage monitor.